STAR
ASTROLOGY
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127.
Once a Learned astrologer came to the house of a poor man and, seeing his
distressed condition, questioned him.
Sometimes we go to an astrologer or
palmist when we are in a distressed condition or when we want to know the
future. The living entity in conditioned life is always distressed by the
threefold miseries of material existence. Under the circumstances, he is
inquisitive about his position. For instance, Sanatana
Gosvami approached the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to ask Him why he was in a distressed
condition. This is the position of all conditioned souls. We are always in a
distressed condition, and an intelligent man naturally becomes inquisitive.
This position is called brahma-jijnasa...
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88.
Nilambara Cakravarti [the
grandfather of Shri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu] then did an astrological calculation and
said that in that month, taking advantage of an auspicious moment, the child
would take birth.
89.
Thus in the year 1407 of the Saka era in the month of
Phalguna [March-April] on the evening of the full
moon, the desired auspicious moment appeared.
The
explanation of the horoscope given by Bhaktivinoda Thakura is that at the time of the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu the
constellations were situated as follows: Shukra
(Venus) and the constellation of the Ashvini stars
were in the Mesharashi (Aries); Ketu
(the ninth planet) and Uttaraphalguni were in the Simha-rashi (Leo); Candra (the
moon) was in Purvaphalguni (the eleventh lunar
mansion); Shani (Saturn) and jyeshtha
were in Vrshcika (Scorpio); Brihaspati
(jupiter) and Purvashadha
were in Dhanu (Sagittarius); Mangala
(Mars) and Shravana were in Makara
(Capricorn); Ravi (the sun) was in Kumbha-rashi (Aquarius); Rahu was
in Purvabhadrapada; and Budha
(Mercury) and Uttarabhadrapada were in Mina (Pisces).
The day was
simhalagna,
The
divisions of the sad-varga area are technically
called kshetra, hora, drekkana, navamsha, dvadashamsha and trimshamsha.
According to Jyotir-vedic astroiogy,
when it is calculated who rules the constellation of six areas, the auspicious
moment is calculated. Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura, who was
previously also a great astrologer, says that in the book named Brinajjataka and other books there are directions for
knowing the movements of the stars and planets. One who knows the process of
drawing a straight line and thus understands the area of asta-varga
can explain the auspicious constellations. This science is known especially by
persons who are called nora-shastra-vit, or those who
know the scripture of the name Hora. On the strength
of astrological calculations from the Hora scripture,
Nilambara Cakravarti, the
grandfather of Shri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, ascertained the auspicious moment in
which the Lord would appear.
ccadi17 .TX 103 On another day
an astrologer came who was supposed to know everything--past, present and
future. Thus Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu received him with all honor and put this
question before him.
Brahmanas
generally used to become astrologers, Ayur-vedic
physicians, teachers and priests. Although highly learned and respectable, such
brahmanas went from door to door to distribute their
knowledge. A brahmana would first go to a
householder's home to give information about the functions to be performed on a
particular tithi, or date, but if there were sickness
in the family, the family members would consult the brahmana
as a physician, and the brahmana would give instruction
and some medicine. Often, since the brahmanas were
expert in astrology, people would also be greatly inquisitive about their past,
present and future.
Although
the brahmana appeared at Lord Caitanya's
house as a beggar, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
received him with great respect because he was a qualified brahmana
who knew the astrological science perfectly. Although brahmanas
would go door to door just like beggars, they were honored as very respectable
guests. This was the system in Hindu society five hundred years ago, during the
time of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
This system was current even one hundred years ago; even fifty or sixty years
ago, when we were children, such brahmanas would
visit householders like humble beggars, and people would derive great benefit
from the mercy of such brahmanas. The greatest
benefit was that a householder could save a great deal of money from being
spent on doctor bills because the brahmanas, aside
from explaining the past, present and future, could ordinarily cure all kinds
of diseases simply by giving instructions and some medicine. Thus no one was
bereft of the benefit of a first-class physician, astrologer and priest.
TX
104 "Please tell Me who I was in My previous
birth," the Lord said. "Please tell Me by
your astrological computations." Hearing the words of the Lord the , the astrologer immediately began to calculate."
Through
astrology one can know past, present and future. Modern western astronomers
have no knowledge of the past or future, nor can they perfectly say anything
about the present. Herein we find, however, that after hearing Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's
order, the astrologer immediately began his calculations. This was not a
facade; he actually knew how to ascertain one's past life through astrology. A
still existing treatise called the Bhrigu-samhita
describes a system by which anyone can immediately getinformation
about what he was in the past and what he is going to be in the future. The brahmanas who went door to door as if
beggars had perfect command of such vast knowledge. Thus the highest
knowledge was easily available even to the poorest man in society. The poorest
man could inquire from an astrologer about his past, present and future, with
no need for business agreements or exorbitant payments. The brahmana
would give him all the benefit of his knowledge without asking remuneration,
and the poor man, in return, would offer a handful of rice, or
anything he had in his possession, to satisfy the brahmana.
In a perfect human society, perfect knowledge in any science--medical,
astrological, ecclesiastical and so on--is available even to the poorest man,
with no anxiety over payment. In the present day, however, no one can get
justice, medical treatment, astrological help or ecclesiastical enlightenment without
money, and since people are generally poor, they are bereft of the benefits of
all these great sciences.
TX105 "Through calculation and meditation, the all knowing
astrologer saw the greatly effulgent body of the Lord, which is the resting
place of all the unlimited Viakuntha planets."
...The
astrologer saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
to be the very same Personality of Godhead. We can just imagine how learned he
was, yet he was traveling door to door, just like an ordinary beggar, for the
highest benefit of human society.
tx 109 [The astrologer said] "You are now the same
Personality of Godhead that You were in Your previous birth. Your identity is
inconceivable eternal happiness."
By the power of astrological science one
can even ascertain the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Everything is to identified by its symptoms.
TX
112 The astrologer said, ``What I saw in meditation was full of opulence, and therefore
I was confused.
It
appears that the astrologer not only was a knower of past, present and future
through astrological calculation, but was a great meditator
as well. Therefore he was a great devotee and could see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be the
same personality as
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PHYSIOLOGY
ADI-14
PALMISTRY
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20. The landlord said,``I shall get you across that hilly tract at night
with my own men. Now just take your lunch and cook for yourself.''
''
.TX 25 Hearing this, Sanatana Gosvami chastised his
servant, saying,``Why have you brought this death knell with you?''